Neivamyrmex

Neivamyrmex

is the most diverse and widely-distributed of the new world army ant genera, and the only army ant found in the temperate regions of North America. Although these insects are not uncommon, they are not often encountered because of their partly subterranean habits. Most species are specialized predators of other ant species.

Neivamyrmex opacithorax army ant queen with a retinue of workers. Unlike most queen ants which are born with wings for dispersal and large eyes for visual navigation, army ant queens are always wingless and have greatly reduced eyes.
Chiricahua Mountains, Arizona, USA